Khvicha Khvaratskhelia Raises His Hand and Enters the Race for the Ballon D’or

The Georgian footballer who plays for the Parisian club is emerging as one of the best players in the championship and also in the domestic league.

Kvaratskhelia shines in the Champions League

The signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January 2025 transformed Paris Saint-Germain, especially in the Champions League. He arrived from SSC Napoli for $81 million, replaced Bradley Barcola, last season's top assist provider in the major leagues, in the starting lineup, and ultimately proved to be a key player in PSG's victory in their first European Cup.

The Georgian's season was a series of decisive performances: he scored and assisted in the return leg of the playoffs against Brest (7-0), scored in the first leg of the quarterfinals against Aston Villa (3-1), provided an assist in the first leg of the semifinals against Arsenal (0-1), and capped it off with a goal in the final against Inter (5-0). In the domestic Ligue 1, he also made his mark: he scored in the return leg of the playoffs against Monaco (2‑2), scored two goals and provided an assist in the first leg of the round of 16 against Chelsea (5‑2), scored again at Stamford Bridge (0‑3), scored a goal in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Liverpool (2‑0), and provided an assist at Anfield (0‑2).

With his two goals against Bayern (5-4) in the first leg of the semifinals, he achieved a unique record: he is the only player to have scored in every round since the Champions League adopted its current format – group stage (3), playoffs (2), round of 16 (3), quarter-finals (2), semifinals (2), and final (1). Furthermore, he is the player who has 'produced' the most goals in the competition this season: 20 direct contributions (13 goals and 7 assists), accounting for 37.2% of PSG's goals in Europe since his arrival. Another striking fact: he was involved in more goals in the Champions League (15 in 14 games) than in Ligue 1 (11 in 25 games).

Compliments and nicknames

His influence didn't go unnoticed off the field. Luis Enrique described him with affection and admiration: “I call Kvaratskhelia 'Kvaradona' and all sorts of things.” And, regarding his consistent performance, he emphasized, “For me, 'Kvara' is a top-tier player throughout the year.”

Praise has also come from international figures. Clarence Seedorf, a former player for Real Madrid, Inter, and AC Milan, nominated him for the Ballon d'Or on Prime Video: “Kvaratskhelia is the best player in the world, and he will continue to improve. He carries the team and knows what to do at all times. I really appreciate his intelligence. He's a key player in creating play and also makes a difference in attack. He's incredible."kvi

Kvaratskhelia himself and the final analysis

However, the player downplays the label of being a big-game player: “They say I pick my games? I don't think so. I think I try to play the same way in every game, but sometimes it's hard.” Whether out of modesty or habit, the truth is that his magic lights up to the sounds of the Champions League, and his performance forces opponents and analysts to rethink their strategies. If he maintains this level, his name will continue to dominate European soccer discourse